John Wesley Whiteside

Photo by: Jack Reeber '23,M'25 - @jackreeber.raw

Height:
6-1
Weight:
288
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Dalton, Ga.
High School:
Dalton
Previous School:
Austin Peay

2022

Played in all 12 games with two starts on the defensive line … listed on the depth chart as a backup defensive tackle … saw action in 441 plays both on defense and on special teams … ranked No. 9 on the team in total tackles, second among defensive linemen with 36 (26 solo), added 8.0 tackles for loss for 24 yards, 0.5 sacks for two yards, one fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry … registered at least one tackle in each of the 12 games … made four solo tackles vs. Western Michigan (11/16) … made five solo tackles vs. Buffalo (11/9) … finished with four tackles (one solo), 1.0 tackle for loss at Northern Illinois (11/2) … made three tackles (two solo) at Akron (10/15) … contributed three tackles (two solo) at Toledo (10/1) … made three solo tackles with 2.0 tackles for loss for four yards and a quarterback hurry at Penn State (9/24) … made one tackle for loss vs. Bucknell (9/17) … registered a career-high seven tackles (four solo), 1.5 tackle for loss for four yards and 0.5 sack vs. South Alabama (9/10).

2021

As a junior, appeared in all 13 games on the defensive line … earned All-Mid-American Conference Third Team recognition from Pro Football Focus … credited with 22 total tackles, 7 1/2 tackles-for-loss and 6 ½ sacks … ranked second on the team in sacks and tied for fourth in tackles-for-loss … made a season-high four tackles, including a sack, vs. FIU (9/25) … collected two sacks vs. Western Michigan (11/3) … had three tackles, including two tackles-for-loss and a sack, vs. Washington State in the Sun Bowl (12/31).

HONORS/AWARDS AT AUSTIN PEAY

Preseason All-OVC (2020) … Ohio Valley Conference All-Newcomer Team (2019) … Dean's List (F20) … Athletic Director's Honor Roll (S19, F19, S20).

2020 AT AUSTIN PEAY

Appeared in five games and made 28 tackles during the 2020-21 season… Made five tackles, including a tackle for loss, against both Tennessee State (Feb. 28) and Southeast Missouri (March 14)… Posted eight tackles, a sack, and a season-high three quarterback hurries against UT Martin (March 21)… Racked up career-high nine tackles and two forced fumbles against Jacksonville State (March 28), becoming the first Gov since Jaison Williams (Oct. 7, 2017) to force a pair of fumbles in a single game… Secured the Govs’ 13-10 win over No. 7 Jacksonville State with a strip-sack and fumble recovery in the final minutes of the contest.

2019 AT AUSTIN PEAY

Made 15 appearances as a sophomore, earning OVC All-Newcomer honors in addition to his 53 total tackles… assisted on seven tackles against Central Arkansas… tallied a career-high nine tackles, including three for loss, as a destructive force at Mercer… assisted on four tackles and hurried the quarterback twice against Southeast Missouri… five tackles and a pass break-up at Tennessee State… four tackles, including two for loss, and a forced fumble at Tennessee Tech… tallied 1.5 tackles for loss against UT Martin… recorded 13 tackles across the three FCS Playoff contests, including six stops and a half-sack at home against Furman.

2018

Did not appear in 2018.

PRIOR TO AUSTIN PEAY

Redshirted at The Citadel in 2017.

HIGH SCHOOL

Four-year letterwinner in high school, competing at Christian Heritage and Dalton… made 60 tackles, including four for loss, and scored one rushing touchdown as senior while helping lead Dalton to 14 wins, region title and semifinal round of AAAAAA state playoffs… was named Defensive Player of the Year, all-state, all-region and all-area as a junior after collecting 85 tackles, including 29 for loss with four sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception… also played basketball.

PERSONAL

Son of Labrina Harris and Chris Gregg… has four siblings: Dymonese, Isaiah, Rashaun and Jase... majoring in sport communication.